GALLIPOLIS — It’s an honor that has been received by towns such as Marietta, Chillicothe, Athens and Cambridge in it’s seven-year history and, in it’s most recent installment, Gallipolis has been honored as one of Ohio’s Best Hometowns by Ohio Magazine.

In the upcoming November issue, Gallipolis will be recognized as one of the five best hometowns in the state for the publication’s seventh annual Ohio’s Best Hometowns edition.

To determine the honorees, the publication solicited nominations from among its readers and site visits were later held in towns across the state to determine the winners for the 2012-2013 season.

The five hometowns are selected within the five regions by the editors of Ohio Magazine. Their selections are based upon six categories — community spirit, education, entertainment, health and safety, business environment and culture and heritage.

In addition to Gallipolis, the hometowns selected as 2012-2013 Ohio’s Best Hometowns are: Findlay, Greenville, Grove City and Peninsula. Each hometown will receive their own regional cover story in the November issue of the magazine.

The issue featuring Gallipolis will hit news stands throughout the region on October 23.

According to Gallia County Convention and Visitors’ Bureau Executive Director Bob Hood, the honor is something to be proud of, not only because of the beauty and history that can be found locally, but also because of the people who work to bring out this beauty and history within Gallipolis and Gallia County.

“We have so much to be proud of, and we’ve had a lot of people that have played a key role in making this happen,” Hood commented. “So, what it means to us is it really puts us on the map with other communities, some larger than us, but it also puts us on the map where people can see us and read about us. It’s a way for us to tell our story.”

According to Hood, representatives with the magazine visited Gallipolis in August — touring the city and attending events in the area — and were happy with what they found.

“They were very impressed and very pleased with what they saw here,” Hood said.

Hood further stated that editors with the publication will visit the area on several occasions in the coming months, and, in addition to the November issue, Gallipolis will be featured in the upcoming January and July editions of the magazine.

Additionally, at a date yet to be announced, an official award presentation will be held and Gallipolis will be presented with an award signifying their status as one of Ohio’s best hometowns — an honor that Hood hopes residents and citizens in the area continue to be proud of and celebrate throughout the year.

“Everybody in Ohio is passionate about their own town, everybody is passionate about where they live, and I think this is just an opportunity to show the state what we have,” he said.